Rolling Fork
Mississippi
SEWER DEPARTMENT
The City of Rolling Fork Sewer Department is responsible for keeping both the sanitary sewer system and the storm drainage system open and operating properly. Because of local terrain and system design, the Department relies on pumps and lift stations to keep wastewater moving to its destination. Crews routinely clean, inspect, and repair sewer lines, storm drains, pumps, and related equipment to ensure reliable conveyance of wastewater and effective drainage of stormwater runoff.
To support preventive maintenance and rapid response, the Department may utilize specialized equipment—such as a vacuum truck—to remove debris from storm drains and to collect grease, sediment, and other buildup in sewer lines before it causes blockages or overflows. Materials removed during cleaning are transported for proper disposal and treatment through the appropriate wastewater treatment process.
As funding and project schedules allow, the Department also replaces aging sewer infrastructure by installing new sewer mains and manholes in targeted areas. New lines are installed in carefully graded trenches to ensure proper vertical and horizontal alignment. Manholes may be installed using prefabricated structures or constructed on site, depending on location and system needs.
To identify leaks, breaks, and improper inflow/infiltration, the Department may use diagnostic tools such as dye testing and smoke testing. When stoppages occur, crews use rodding equipment and high-pressure water jetting to restore flow. The Department also maintains lift stations throughout the system and, where applicable, smaller grinder pump stations and pressure lines in areas where pumps are required to move flow efficiently. Where terrain permits, gravity lines are used as an effective and cost-efficient method of conveying sewage.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Can You Do To Help?
Never pour grease down a sink or drain. Kitchen grease should be placed in a small can or sealed container, allowed to cool, and disposed of with your household garbage.
Never open—or allow children to open—a manhole cover. Toxic gases can collect in sewer systems and may cause serious illness or even death. Open manholes also present a significant public safety hazard, especially for children at play. If you see a manhole cover off or out of place, contact the City of Rolling Fork Sewer Department so trained personnel can safely return it to its proper position. Manhole covers are heavy, and crews use specialized tools to replace them without injury.
Never place objects in the sewer or storm drainage system that do not belong there. Items such as leaves, sticks, grass clippings, broken furniture, appliances, toys, and plastics of any kind are difficult to remove and can damage equipment or obstruct the flow of wastewater and stormwater.
If you see or suspect a sewer leak, please report it promptly. The City will make every effort to address reported issues as quickly as possible.
Conserve water whenever possible. Water conservation helps ensure a reliable supply for future generations and can also reduce your monthly bill for both water service and sewer treatment/disposal.
Grass clippings should be bagged for disposal or used for composting at home. Placing clippings in curbside drains or ditches restricts stormwater flow, increases the risk of stoppages, and can cause water to back up onto streets and nearby properties.
Teach children that sewer lines, storm drains, and manholes are not safe places to play. At the same time, help them understand how these systems protect public health, the environment, and our shared water resources—and how everyone can help keep them working properly.
What You Get For The Fee You Pay?
The Sewer Department is responsible for the conveyance of domestic and industrial wastewater and for the collection and management of stormwater. In Rolling Fork, the Department’s role may also extend to flood protection operations that help safeguard the community during high-water events.
During times when the Mississippi River rises and flood conditions threaten low-lying areas, City crews may install and secure flood-control components and operate and maintain pumping systems designed to reduce the risk of water backing up into streets, businesses, and other developed areas. This work requires hands-on staffing, routine equipment maintenance, and rapid response as conditions change—often outside normal business hours.
These flood-protection responsibilities are closely tied to the City’s broader water and sewer infrastructure, along with the ongoing treatment and lawful disposal of wastewater. Where applicable, biosolids generated through wastewater treatment may be managed in accordance with regulatory requirements, including land-application practices when permitted and appropriate.
Importantly, these services are funded through monthly user fees paid by customers. Sewer charges are typically based on water consumption, since water use is a practical measure of the volume of wastewater that enters the system. In this way, customer fees help support multiple essential public works functions that protect public health, the environment, and the safety of the community.
Why Sewer Service Is Important?
Proper conveyance and treatment of wastewater is vital to protecting public health and the environment. Access to sewer service at a home or business can also enhance property values by providing reliable sanitation infrastructure. In addition, many businesses and industries depend on the safe conveyance of properly pretreated liquid wastes to the wastewater system for treatment and final disposal in accordance with applicable permits and environmental standards.
The Rolling Fork Sewer Department serves the community through an extensive network of sewer lines and related infrastructure. This work is carried out by a dedicated team of City employees, with personnel available on an on-call basis to respond to urgent customer needs after hours, as necessary.